Egyptian President Anwar Sadat wound up his 10-day tour today with an address to a joint session of Congress where he appealed “in the most emphatic terms to lend the Palestinian people your understanding and support.” He sought to back away from his National Press Club comments, at the start of his national tour, in which he attacked Jews and Zionism.
Sadat’s address to Congress, an honor rarely accorded to any visiting head of state, was arranged in advance of his visit by the State Department and was presented to the legislators as a fait accompli despite widespread opposition by members of both the Senate and House, During the course of his address, a Capital official estimated that some 300 of the 539 members of both chambers were seated on the House floor. The diplomatic section was filled and some Cabinet members were present, but none of the Supreme Court justices were there.
The Egyptian leader told Congress that he noted “certain promising signs in the past few weeks” with some Senators and Representatives who were “demonstrating a keen interest in the cause of the Palestinians and exploring ways and means of solving their problems and putting an and to their predicament,” Sadat did not mention the Palestine Liberation Organization as such,
Without mentioning Zionism or Jews, Sadat emphasized in his remarks, “we Arabs have no problem whatsoever co-existing with others of different ethnic or religious backgrounds.” He referred to the teachings of Islam and mentioned the revelation given to Arabs, Abraham, Isaac, Moses and Jesus and “to all prophets of their Lord.”
PRAISES FORD, U.S.
Sadat praised President Ford as a Human of vision, deep understanding and compassion” and paid homage to American leaders, including Washington, Lincoln, Wilson and Kennedy, and referred to the American Bicentennial.
Sadat said “of almost all nations, the United States remains as the sole dissenter in the long overdue trend of establishing contacts with the Palestinians,” He said “contacts bring understanding” and “understanding helps develop solutions,” In urging Congress to give the “Palestinian people” support, Sadat said ” the continuation of neglect and defiance is but an open invitation to violence, negativism and extremism.”
Sadat’s remarks patently were designed to avoid any touchy subjects, such as arms, economic aid that he expects to get from the United States. He never mentioned Israel nor the United Nations Third Committee anti-Zionist draft resolution, Observers said he was trying to present to the Congress what he thought Americans wanted to hear, to embellish his image as a moderate Arab leader looking for peace,
During his speech, which he read in English, Sadat was applauded when he praised Ford and when he said he was seeking not aid but friendship from the U.S. Among the members of Congress who deliberately absented themselves were Reps, Bella Abzug and Elizabeth Holtzman, both Democrats of New York; and Abner Mikvah (D, III.). Abzug told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that they refused to attend the session because of Sadat’s anti-Semitic remarks during his 10-day tour.
On the lawn facing the Capitol, two sets of demonstrations were conducted simultaneously without incident. One was by the Louis D. Brandeis Zionist District of Washington, and the Seaboard region of the United Synagogue of America. The other was by a group of predominantly Black sympathizers with the Palestinians and Arabs.
The estimated 200 Jewish demonstrators carried placards which said, “Sadat Uses The Big Lie Against The Jews,” “We Defend Democracy Against Bigotry” and “Zionism is a Liberation Movement,” The pro-Sadat sympathizers chanted continually, “Long live Sadat, Mighty Man of Peace,”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
